Aquatic sport device



United States Patent C) 3,206,778 AQUATIC SPURT DEVICE Ronald G.Puckett, Olathe, Kans., assignor to P. F. Kellner, doing business asPee-Kay Aircraft Products, International Falls, Minn.

Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,452 12 Claims. (Cl. 9310) Thisinvention relates to aquatic sport devices and in particular to a waterski with a seat and controls mounted thereon that allow the ski to yaw,roll and pitch as it is towed over water by a motorboat.

Water scooters and bob skis are well known in the art, but these devicesare limited in function and use. Water scooters are useful merely withina single frame of reference, that is to say, they are provided with asingle rudder and suitable controls that permit the device to move in aright or left hand direction solely within a horizontal plane. On theother hand, an aquatic bob ski is provided with suitable controls thatallow the device to bob and skip as it is pulled over the water and tomove in a left or right hand direction, but not to bank left or right.Furthermore, the construction of these devices is such that any rider oroperator using the same must be highly skillful and extremely alert inmanipulating such a vehicle or else he will cause injury not only tohimself but to the vehicle which he is riding.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a watervehicle device equipped with suitable controls that allow said vehicleto move over the water while being towed in any manner that may bedesirable to a rider operating said vehicle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a water ski vehicleequipped with a towline hitch that will release the towline if theoperator falls from the vehicle.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide controls on a waterski vehicle that will allow movement within a single, dual or tripleframe of reference.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a water ski vehicledevice that is equipped with both foot and hand manipulated controls forsteering said vehicle as it is towed over the water.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an aquaticsport device, for towing over water, that is simple in construction andinexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects of this invention will become readily apparentby reference to the following specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is an end view, partly in section, taken on line 33 of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken from the top halfof FIGURE 2 showing the hand operated controls of the device; and

FIGURE 5 is a top sectional View taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

Construction Referring now to the drawings by character, and inparticular to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional water skiprovided with a frame 12, foot operated controls 14, and handmanipulated controls 16.

'Preferably frame 12 is located at the approximate hori- 3,206,778Patented Sept. 21, 1965 and 23 to vertical uprights 18 and 20. A seat 26is mounted at the upper end of upright 20. Seat 26 may be adjustablymounted for vertical or horizontal movement if such is desired. A hook28 is secured to vertical upright 18 at the approximate verticalmidpoint thereof for releasable engagement with a tow line 30 by which amotor boat, not shown, pulls the entire device over the water.

Foot operated control 14 is comprised of a rudder control bar 32,control rods 34 and and a rudder horn 36. Rudder bar 32 is mounted forpivotal movement about a vertical axis by a pin 38 secured to ski 10.Pref erably, rudder bar 32 and pin 38 are located directly in front ofupright 18. Control rods 34 and 35 are secured, one to each side, ofrudder bar 32. These control rods extend rearwardly along either side offrame 12 and are secured to a rudder horn 36 which is also mounted forpivotal movement about a vertical axis by use of pin 40. A verticalstabilizer 42 with a rudder 44 hingedly mounted thereto, as by hinges46, is mounted at the rear of and beneath ski 10. Pin extends throughski 10 and is secured to rudder 44 in any convenient manner so as toallow rudder 44 to pivot about a vertical axis drawn through hinges 46when rudder bar 32 is manipulated.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 in particular, there is shown a handoperated control mounted to the upper portion of the upright 18. Agenerally U-shaped plate 48 is secured, as by screws 50, to an extension52 of upright 13. A second U-formed plate 54 is pivotally secured to therear of plate 48 by a pin 56. A generally inverted T-form element 58 ispivotally secured to plate 54 by a pin 60 passing through the stemthereof. A steering wheel 62 is rigidly secured to T-element 58 by abolt 64. A pair of horizontal stabilizers 66 and 67 are mounted onopposite sides of ski 10 at the approximate center thereof by bolts 68.Elements 66 and 67 depend outwardly at an angle of approximately 45degrees from the plane of ski 10. A pair of elevon plates 70 and 71 aresecured by hinges 72 to stabilizers 66 and 67 respectively. Hinges 72are mounted so that elevons 70 and 71 extend towards the rear of ski 10.Movement of plates 70 and 71 is controlled by a pair of elevon rods 74and 75 secured to elevons 70 and 71 respectively and to 0pposite outerends 76 and 77 of the head of T-element 58.

Operation An operator seated on the seat 26 places his legs on eitherside of the frame 12 so that his feet contact rudder bar 32. In thisposition he is then able to grasp steering wheel 62. As the device istowed over the water, as by tow rope 30, he may steer the device in aright or left hand direction by moving rudder bar 32 with his feet. Whenthe right side of rudder bar 32 is moved forward, this will cause rudderhorn 36 to move in the same direction thereby causing rudder 44 to turnand thereby steer the device in a right hand direction. Correspondingly,if the left side of rudder bar 32 is moved forward, this will causerudder horn 36 to move thereby turning rudder 44 so as to steer thedevice in a left hand direction.

To maintain ones balance as the device is towed over the water, wheel 62is rotated in a clockwise Or counterclockwise direction, and thismovement will cause one elevon plate to lower while the other rises..Therefore, the device will rotate about its line of movement in a rightor left handed direction depending on whether the wheel is turned rightor left. This banking" movement may be employed with the use of rudderbar 32 in achieving a banking turn. At the same time, the attitude ofthe device can be changed by movement of steering wheel 62 about an axisthrough pin 60. Specifically, a downward movement of wheel 62 will causeelevon plates 70 and 71 to lower, thereby raising the forward tip of ski10. Conversely, raising the base of wheel 62 will cause plates 70 and 71to rise also, thereby forcing the forward end of ski to move downwardly.

From the foregoing description of the operation of the device, it can beseen that one or more of the controls provided may be operated at thesame time if such is desirable. That is to say, rudder bar 32 may bemoved back and forth to steer the device while wheel 62 is rotated andmoved up and down thereby causing the device itself to rotate clockwiseor counterclockwise while the forward end of the device is moved up ordown. Thus I have devised a new and useful aquatic support device, fortowing over the water, that is operable in three frames of references,singularly or all together.

Tow rope hook 28 serves as a safety feature of the device. That is tosay, should the operator lose his balance and fall while being towed,tow rope 30 will slip off of hook 28 thereby preventing the device frombeing dragged through the water while at the same time preventing theoperator from being hurt should he not be able to free himself from thedevice in normal operation, hook 28 is placed above the plane ofattachment of tow rope 30 to the motor boat, as indicated by the angularposition of tow rope 30 in FIG. 2, thereby assuring securance of towrope 30, to hook 28. Should the operator fall, the invention will tipand fall, either to the right or left. In either event, at least aportion of the curved, forward end of ski 10 will enter the water,thereby causing the rear of ski 10 to move towards the motor boat. Thus,the invention will rotate about its normal, vertical axis, allowing thefree end of hook 28 to point towards the motor boat and thus cause towrope 30 to become disengaged from hook 28.

While the above description serves as a specific embodiment of thisinvention, it is apparent that the construction herein provided may bealtered if so desired without extending beyond the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the above exceptfor the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An aquatic sport device, for towing on water, comprising a ski-likerunner, a frame thereupon and steering, banking and tilting controlsarranged for manipulation by an operator, said frame located on theupper face of said runner, approximately centrally thereof, the width ofsaid frame being less than that of said runner, said frame providing aseat for said operator and including a portion extending verticallyupwardly and forwardly of said seat, means attached to the forward endof said frame for releasable engagement with a tow line, said steeringcontrols comprising a rudder bar pivotally mounted centrally thereof,for quick movement in a horizontal plane by said operator, locatedforwardly of said frame, a rudder horn pivotally mounted rearwardly ofsaid frame near the end of said runner, a pair of connecting rodsattached to said rudder horn, and said rudder bar, for simultaneousmovement thereof, a rudder plate located beneath said runner and securedto said horn, said rudder plate also hingedly secured to a verticallymounted stabilizer plate, said banking and tilting controls comprising acontrol wheel, mounted on the vertically extending portion of saidframe, said wheel adapted for rotational movement about its center axisas well as about an axis transverse to the longitudinal median of saidski, a pair of plates mounted on either side of said runner about themid-point thereof and depending outwardly at approximately therefrom,each of said plates having an elevon plate hingedly mounted rearwardlythereof towards the rear of said runner, and a pair of bankingconnecting rods, one each secured to each elevon and to said controlwheel, outside of a vertical medium plane of said ski.

2. An aquatic sport device, for towing on water, comprising a ski-likerunner, a frame thereupon, and steering, banking and tilting controlsarranged for manipulation by an operator, said frame located on theupper face of said runner, approximately centrally thereof, said frameproviding a seat for said operator and including a portion extendingvertically upwardly and forwardly of said seat, said steering controlscomprising a rudder bar pivotally mounted centrally thereof, for footmovement in a horizontal plane, a rudder horn pivotally mounted at therear of said ski, means controlling horizontal rotational movement ofsaid horn secured to said rudder bar, said horn having a verticallydepending rudder plate mounted thereto, said banking and tiltingcontrols comprising a control wheel mounted on the vertically extendingportion of said frame, said wheel being rotatable about its center axisas well as about an axis transverse of the longitudinal medium of saidski, and a pair of depending plates each mounted on either side of saidski, each of said plates having an elevon plate hingedly mounted theretoadapted for up and down movement, said movement controlled by a rodconnecting said plate and said wheel.

3. An aquatic sport device, for towing on water, comprising a ski-likerunner, a frame thereupon, and steering, banking and tilting controlsarranged for manipulation by an operator, said frame providing a seatfor said operator as well as a vertically extending portion mountedforwardly of said seat, said steering controls comprising a rudder barpivotally mounted, a rudder horn, also pivotally mounted, said barcontrolling the movement of said horn by use of a pair of rods connectedto each, said horn having a depending rudder plate secured thereto, saidbanking and tilting controls comprising a control wheel, mounted on saidvertically extending portion, said wheel adapted for movement about twoopposed axes, and a pair of depending plates, each mounted on eitherside of said ski and having an elevon plate hingedly secured thereto,said elevon plate secured to said wheel by a rigid member forcontrolling movement thereof.

4. An aquatic sport device, for towing on Water, comprising a ski-linerunner, a frame thereupon, and steering, banking and tilting controlsarranged for manipulation by an operator seated on said frame, saidsteering controls including a pivotally mounted depending rudderoperable by the feet of said operator, said banking and tilting controlsincluding a hand control, pivotally mounted on said frame formulti-axial movement, a pair of elevon plates, each hingedly secured torespective sides of said ski, and means connecting said wheel to each ofsaid elevon plates.

5. An aquatic sport device, for towing on Water, comprising a ski-likerunner, a pair of stabilizer plates, each secured to respective sides ofsaid ski, a frame on said ski, and steering and banking controlsarranged for manipulation by an operator, one said control arranged forfoot operation, the other of said controls arranged for hand operation,both said controls adapted for simultaneous but independent operation.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said steering controls comprise a pairof pivotally mounted bars, one of said bars adapted for footmanipulation, the other of said bars being arranged to move in responseto said first bar, said other of said bars having a vertically dependingrudder mounted thereto.

7. A device as in claim 5 wherein said banking controls are arranged tocause said ski to rotate about a longitudinal axis drawn through themedian of ski and about a transverse axis to said longitudinal axis.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said banking controls include a wheelmounted for hand manipulation about a central axis of said wheel as wellas about a horizontal axis opposed 90 to said central axis, a pair ofelevon plates, one hingedly mounted to each of said stabilizer plates,and arranged for up and down movement, and means connecting said wheeland said elevon plates for control of said movement.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein movement of said elevon plates inresponse to movement of said wheel about a horizontal axis causes saidski to rotate about said transverse axis and movement of said elevonplates in response to rotation of said wheel about its axis causes saidski to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

10. A water sport device to be towed over water com prising a Water ski,a frame mounted thereon, said frame providing support for an operatorseated thereupon, movable plates mounted on said ski and dependingtherefrom, said plates being arranged as to cause said ski to roll,pitch and yaw about an approximate central point thereof, and means tocontrol said movable plates operable by said operator.

11. A device as in claim 10 wherein said frame is approximatelycentrally located on said ski, said means comprising a steering wheelpivotally mounted on said frame, adapted for multi-directionalmanipulation by said operator, said wheel suitably connected to a pairof said plates for controlling said roll and pitch motion.

12. A device as in claim 10 wherein said yaw motion is controlled by avertically depending rudder pivotally mounted to the rear of said ski,said means additionally comprising foot operable controls for movementof said rudder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,400,782 5/46Randall 114-665 2,584,347 2/52 Hazard 114-665 2,910,708 11/59 Albright9-310 3,123,375 3/64 Courtney 9-310 X FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, PrimaryExaminer.

5. AN AQUATIC SPORT DEVICE, FOR TOWING ON WATER, COMPRISING A SKI-LIKERUNNER, A PAIR OF STABILIZER PLATES, EACH SECURED TO RESPECTIVE SIDES OFSAID SKI, A FRAME ON SAID SKI, AND STEERING AND BANKING CONTROLSARRANGED FOR MANIPULATION BY AN OPERATOR, ONE SAID CONTROL ARRANGED FORFOOT OPERATION, THE OTHER OF SAID CONTROLS ARRANGED FOR HAND OPERATION,BOTH SAID CONTROLS ADAPTED FOR SIMULTANEOUS BUT INDEPENDENT OPERATION.